Fans and organizers of the ATP 500 in Beijing will have the best possible final. In the Chinese capital, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will compete for the title, in a kind of revenge of the semi-final of the last edition (won by the Italian ace in two sets). The worldnumber 1 defeated local idol Bu at the end of a very spectacular match, while the Spanish champion beat Russian aceDaniil Medvedev for the third time this season.
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The 23-year-old from San Candido will try to win his seventh title of his incredible 2024, in which he also won two Majors and two Masters 1000. The 21-year-old from Murcia - on the other hand - is looking for his fourth title this year after the Indian Wells Masters 1000, the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships.
Jannik and Carlitos have already faced each other twice this year, in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 and the French Open. In both cases, Alcaraz prevailed after losing the first set. The Italian ace and the Spanish champion were the two great dominators of this season, having equally divided the four Majors played this year. Many insiders say that Sinner and Alcaraz are set to take over the Big 3 and dominate mens tennis in the next decade.
The best final
The two champions have always played very spectacular and uncertain matches, which is why we expect a memorable show even in the final of the tournament in Beijing. Its not easy to find a real favourite on Eve, but bookmakers consider Carlitos slightly favourite. The world number 1 has an amazing record on the hard courts and was the absolute best player this year, but the Spaniard has found his best tennis again and comes to this final without losing even a set.
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Jannik is ready for a new clash with Alcaraz: "It was a very tough match, I didn't know Bu and didn't know what to expect at the beginning. I played good tennis in the first set, then lost some intensity in the second. I'm happy to be back in the final in Beijing this year. It will be different with Alcaraz, obviously we know each other very well. But for now, I will only focus on tomorrow's match. Each match between us is different, and the situations on the court may vary. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying this final; playing finals is always a great moment. I hope tomorrow is a good match.
The 23-year-old from San Candido has the chance to make his 2024 even more memorable, achieving his seventh title of the season and approaching the goal of closing the year at the top of the ATP ranking. The four-time Grand Slam champion - on the other hand - is much better after having disappointed in the American tournaments by being eliminated in the first week of the US Open.
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An already epic rivalry
The former world number 1 has found his best feeling and is ready to win more titles in this last part of the season. "I think I played really well today. It's clear that to beat Daniil, you have to play at a high level of tennis, you have to be very sharp. Today, I felt great on the court again, and that makes me very happy. I don't think I could have played a better semifinal, this allows me to approach the final in the best possible way. Very, very happy to play my first final in Beijing Carlos said in the press conference.
The Spaniard is very loved by fans all over the world: "Honestly, I was very surprised to go out on the court and see that it was almost full. Being a Tuesday, having the stands full... it made me very happy to see so many people. When I face Daniil, we both show a great level of tennis, with great exchanges, and I think people really enjoy that. Thanks to this, people start watching matches: I think we show a bit of everything, with good rallies, good defenses, great attacks, a good mix. It's fantastic for the viewer. Today, I really enjoyed the atmosphere, I hope to feel that energy again in the final.
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It's great to see so many people supporting me. I'm glad that the ball boys do too, it's great. I try to be an inspiration in the right way, with my behavior on the court and how I approach each match. When I see ball boys around, I try to talk to them, have great moments, it's something that makes me happy and I'm glad to know this fact."
